Binding fuel material and method of producing same



Jill

Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

THEODORE NAGEL, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BINDING FUEL MATERIAL AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME.

No Drawing. Application filed May 24,

This invention relates to the production of a binding material and its use in various agglomerating processes, applicable to the manufacture of briquets and more particu-- larly to the manufacture of water-insoluble, smokeless, domestic fuel briquets.

It is among the objects of this invention to produce a hard, smokeless, water-insoluble binder from a water-soluble liquid binding material the component parts of which are practically waste liquids from certain manufacturing processes.

Another object of this invention is to produce at a reasonable cost a commercially practicable binding material for briquetting the large tonnage of comminuted fuels which are waste products of little commercial value in their present form and which, when briquetted, may be used as=fuel substitutes.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of the various steps and combination of steps and the product thereof, all as will be more fully hereinafter dis closed and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 610,369, filed January 2, 1923, and entitled Artificial fuel and method of making same, I have described a binder which is especially adapted for making briquets, which binder consists essentially of a mixture of blackstrap molasses and phosphoric acid, preferably in the proportion of seven and one-half parts of molasses to one and one-half parts of phosphoric acid. A briquet made with this binder and then heated to a suitable temperature to fix the binder in not affected by water, is tough and does not disintegrate when burned. I have since found that the available supply of molasses is limited and have, therefore, attempted to find a material which might be utilized in a binder for briquets in place thereof.

I have found that concentrated alcohol slops used alone as a binding material produce tough briquets which air dry very slowly. When baked the briquets become fragile. Concentrated sulphite liquor used alone as a binding material produces rather fragile briquets which, however, dry rapidly and become hard. .It is difficult to make the briquets entirely water-insoluble by baking, which if attained causes the briquets to become fragile. A

My invention is based on the discovery 192 4. Serial No. 715,673.

that whenthe two materials are mixed together they form a new binding material and the briquets produced therewith have toughness imparted by the alcohol slops and due to the concentrated sulphite liquor, dry rapidly, forming hard and tough briquets which after baking are water-insoluble, smokeless and odorless.

In attempting to determine the reason for the beneficial results of adding sulphite liqnor to alcohol slops, it was found that apparently the slops contained an ingredient which is detrimental to the strength of the finished product. The sulphite liquor being acid in character, since it contains considerable quantities of resin acids, is probably capable in some unexplained manner of neutralizing the effect of the said ingredient in the alcohol slops and thereby of restoring the adhesive action of the other organic substances therein.'

I have also found that the above described binder may be still further improved by the addition thereto of a dehydrating agent, such as phosphoric acid, in suflicient quantity to exert a-dehydrating effect on the binder and consequently to increase the strength and toughness of the finished product. The phosphoric acid also has the effect of raising the ignition temperatureof the binder to a point equal to or above that of the fuel itself. This has the advantageous result of holding the particles of fuel together while the briquet is burning thereby preventing disintegration .and the consequent loss of unburned fine particles of fuel.

As an example of my improved binding material I use approximately two parts by weight of a liquid possessing adhesive properties, such as concentrated alcohol slops of commerce containing approximately 50% solids, that is the concentrated residual liq-- uid after making alcohol from molasses, to which I mix approximately one part by weight of a liquid possessing drying properties, such as concentrated sulphite liquor of commerce, containing approximately 50% solids, that is the concentrated liquid residue produced in the separation of the resinous gums from the cellulose of wood, such as the liquor originating in the paper pulp industry of North Carolina at the plant of the Champion Fiber Co., Canton, N. C. The proportions of alcohol slops and sulphite liquor may vary from the example given above but in any event the amount of sulphite liquor in the mixture should be substantially not less than ten percent of the alcohol slops by weight.

Thoroughly wet-ted with this improved binding material comminuted smokeless fuel particles are cemented together in the desired shape by pressure in suitable briquet machines. The briquets leaving the machines are tough and hard enough to withstand the handling incident to subsequent treatment To convert the binding material into a hard, smokeless, water-insoluble binder the briquets are baked, for example, about fifteen minutes between 250 C. and 500 C. depending upon the size and shape of the briquets.

The preferred form of my invention consists in adding to a binder such as described above crude phosphoric acid solution. In accomplishing this, 1 preferably provide a mixture consisting of eight parts of alcohol slops, four parts of sulphite liquor and about two partsor more of crude phosphoric acid containing approximately sixty per cent of phosphoric acid, H,,P(),. This solution is utilizedto make, for example, anthracite culm briquets by adding an amount equal to eight per cent of the weight of the pulverized fuel material and briquetting under pressure, after which the briquets are heated to a suitable temperature to fix the binder.

My invention results in a briquet which is smokeless and water-insoluble, and which resists the disintegrating action of, water which is encountered in the storage and shipment of briquets. The principal ingredient of the binder is aver y cheap material and, therefore, I have produced a binder which is relatively low in cost but which is Very efficient in its action.

Although I have described several embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself thereto, as various changes may be made in the details thereof within the scope of the claims appended hereto. For instance, I may substitute for the sulphite liquor a material hav- .ing properties which will accompl sh the same result and I am not necessarily limited to the use of phosphoric acid as various other drying agents, such as dilute sulphuric acid not exceeding 50% strength, may be substituted therefor. The amount of phosphoric acid used may be. varied to suit requirements but I generally employ at least 10% thereof in the binder and not over about 30%.

What I claim is: I

1. The method of making a fuel material which comprises mixing alcohol slops and sulphite liquor in suitable proportions, in corporatin the same with comminuted fuel, pressing t e same, and heating to between 250 C. and 500- C. to convert the mixture of alcohol slops and sulphite liquor into a hard, water-insoluble, smokeless binder.

2. The method of making briquets which comprises mixing alcohol slops with sulphite liquor in suitable proportions, incorporating the same with finely divided substances, pressing the same, and heating to convert the mixture of alcoholslops and sulphite liquor into a hard, water-insoluble, smokeless binder.

3. The method of making agglomerates and sulphite liquor which, on incorporating with finely divided fuel and pressing form tough briquets which dry quickly and harden.

6. A binding fuel material for briquetting which comprises a mixture of alcohol slops and sulphite liquor in such proportions that upon heating the mixture will be converted into a smokeless, water-insoluble binder.

7 A binding fuel material for briquetting fuel which comprises a-mixture of alcohol slops and sulphite. liquor in which the amount of sulphite-liquor is substantially not less than ten per cent of the alcohol slops by weight.

8. A binding fuel material for briquetting fuels which comprises a mixture of alcohol slops with phosphoric acid.

9. A binding fuel material for briquettin fuels which comprises a mixture of alcoho slops with sulphite liquor and phosphoric aci 10. A binding fuel material for briquetting fuels' which comprises a mixture of alcohol slops, phosphoric acid and sulphite liquor in which the amount of sulphite liquor is substantially not less than ten per cent of the alcohol slops by weight. 11. A binding fuel material which comprises a mixture of alcohol slops, sulphite liquor and phos hOIiCttCid, the amount of phosphoric acid eing substantially not less than ten r cent of the binder.

12. A inding fuel material which comprises a mixture of alcohol slops, sulphite liquor and phosphoric acid, the amount of phosphoric acid being about ten per cent to thirty per cent of the binder. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st da of May, 1924.

THEODO E NAGEL. 

